Breathing assistor valve



Dec. 18, 1956 J. H. EMERSON BREATHING ASSISTOR VALVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1952 efakwfll rrzvsam Dec. 18, 1956 J. H. EMERSON 2,774,352

BREATHING ASSISTOR VALVE Y Filed March 28, 1952 s Shets-Sheet 2 Dec. 18, 1956 J. H. EMERSON 2,774,352

BREATHING ASSISTOR VALVE Filed March 28, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet a fzzyerziar Jomfifi vzersara BREATHING ASSISTOR VALVE John H. Emerson, Arlington, Mass.

Application March 28, 1952, Serial No. 279,105

Claims. (Cl. 128203) This invention relates to valves and more particularly to a valve of the demand type customarily interposed between a source of compressed gas, as for example oxygen, and a device from and into which a patient breathes, as for example a face mask, anesthesia bag or the like, for assisting the patient to breathe under conditions where the patient by himself is capable of initiating inhalation but is incapable of completing adequate depth of inhalation. It also may be used to assist a patient who is able to breathe but is in such condition that the exertion required for breathing is undesirable and should be reduced.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel breathing assistor valve of the character described which upon the patients initiation of inhalation will assure the enforced delivery of life sustaining gas at a predetermined pressure and in predetermined volume to fill the patients lungs without requiring any further effort on the patients part and without injury to his lungs and which when the period of artificial inhalation has terminated will permit normal exhalation by the patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which makes possible the maximum utilization of gas received from the source of compressed gas during the inhalation period not only to control the volume of gas so received but to increase such volume through the addition of a less expensive gas such as air during enforced delivery, thereby to eifect a substantial economy in the use of the compressed gas heretofore unattained in prior art devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which provides an additional supply of gas under pressure simultaneously with and only during the period of artificial inhalation for operating auxiliary equipment, as for example, an atomizer for administering medicine to the patient.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a valve of the character described which is simple, compact and durable in construction, dependable in use, easy to disassemble, clean and re-assemble and economical to manufacture.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following moredetailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is the section along the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4a is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 with the upper portion broken away, except that a second inhalation valve 68 is substituted for exhalation valve 80, the escape of gas during exhalation being provided by exhalation valve 129 (see Figs. 6 and 7);

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section along the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation showing the manner in which the valve of the invention is used with a face mask, the tube connecting the valve with the face mask being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a top view showing the manner in which the valve of the invention is used with a face mask and atomizer;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation showing the manner in which the valve of the invention may be used for the administration of anesthesia, the tube connecting the valve with the casing enclosing the anesthesia bag being broken away; and

Fig. 10 is a further enlarged partial section along the line 5--5 of Fig. 1 showing the needle valve and associated passages and parts.

Referring to'Figs. 1-5 of the drawings, the valve comprises a housing 1 made of aluminum or other suitable material, comprising a narrow elongate body portion 2 and an enlarged annular substantially dish-shaped body portion 3, the elongate body portion 2 having a reduced gas receiving end 4 and a delivery end 5. A cover 6, preferably formed of the same material. as the housing and formed substantially in the shape of an inverted dish cooperates with the body portion 3 to form a chamber 7 which receives a flexible diaphragm 8 dividing the chamber into the atmospheric pressure chamber 9 and the control chamber 10.

Within the housing, the portion of the elongate body portion 2 adjacent to the body portion 3 is formed with an elongate channel 11 extending longitudinally of the body portion 2 and constituting a part of the control chamber 10 and having a floor 12 and end walls 13 and 14. The cover 6 and body portion 3 are formed with peripheral flanges 16 and 17 provided respectively with an annular recess 18 and 19 and are secured together at said flanges by suitable means here shown for example as screws 20. The peripheral margin of the diaphragm is received and clamped between said flanges and is provided with annular spaced openings to receive the screws 20, whereby the portion of the diaphragm inwardly of its peripheral margin is afiorded ample room to move inwardly and outwardly within the control chamber 10. I

The cover 6 is provided with a screened port 23 so that the atmospheric pressure chamber 9 is in free communication with the atmosphere at all times.

At its reduced gas receiving end 4 the bodyportion 2 is formed with a central longitudinal'bore 24 (Fig. 5) having an internally threaded portion 25 and a reduced portion 26, the latter portion extending inwardly through the end wall 13 of chamber 11 and slidably receiving a valve stem 27, the inner end of the valve stem projecting into the channel 11 and being provided with a longitudinal slot 28. a

The valve stem is formed adjacent its outer end With a reduced portion 30 which extends outwardly through a central bore 32 provided in the guide sleeve 33, the guide sleeve being accommodated within the. threaded portion 25 of the bore and having a reduced portion 34 extending'inwardly into the reduced portion 26 of the bore. The annular shoulder 35 of the guide sleeve cooperates with the annular shoulder 36 of the bore formed by the reduced portion 26 to limit the inward movement of the 7 guide sleeve. Preferably, a rubber washer 37 is interposed between the annular shoulders 35 and 36.

A spacer ring 38 is disposed in the threaded portion 25 of the bore outwardly of and abutting the guide sleeve 33 and is formed with a central opening 39. Adjacent the periphery of saidopening 39 the ring is formed with an outwardly directed spacer flange 40 adapted to abut the inner face of a holding ring 43 and to form a gas inlet chamber 41 between the spacer and holding rings,; the

Patented Dec. 18, 1956 -tion to advance the valve 54 to seated to close the'gas inlet'port 51'.

outwardly directed flange 40 being formed with radial slots 42 V The spacer ring 38 and guide'sleeve 33 are held in position against outward movement by the holding ring" 43 which" has externd threads which cooperate with the internal threads of the portion 25 of the bore.' The hold- 1 ing ring 43 is' provided with a central opening 44 which accommodates a nozzle 45 projecting inwardly from the T coupling 46 having 'a reduced externally threaded'po'rtion T47 which isscrewed into the outer end of the internally threaded portion 25 of: the'bore 24, the shoulder 48 formed by the reduced portion 47 cooperating with'the gas receiving end 4 of the body portion 2 of the-housing ro limit thetinward'movement of the'coupling. The nozzle 45 is provided with a'central bore 49 having a re duced portion at its inner end constituting a gas inlet port 51 and the inner end of the nozzle'is formed with" an annular recess 52 about the 'reduced portion to receive a rubber ring, the'ring constituting a valve'seat53. 1 The outer end' of the-,valve sternfis formed with a further reduced portionconstituting a needle valve 54. r

"The diaphragm is operatively connected to the valve in the following manner. Discs55 of suitable material 7 .such as aluminum/ are provided Orr-both sides of the diaphragm adjacent'its central portion and are secured to the diaphragm by suitable means here shown as: a screw 56 passing through thecenter of the discsv and V tudinal bore 82 (Fig. 5) extends'in reduced stepsthrou'gh' the body portion 2 from the deliveryie'nd 5 respectively to' in the peripheral margin of rubber -washer 37, guide 5 Y sleeve 33 and spacer ring 38 into communication with the" V stituting a gas outlet port.

diaphragm into a threaded recess in a stud 57. The inner end of the stud extends inwardly into the channel jiil and is pzrovided with "a; slot 58for,pivotally receiving the end'of one arm 59, of a bell crank 6G. The arml extends thence within the channel 11 toward the channel ,end-wall 13'adjacentto which it ispivotally mounted be tween '21- 'ofjspaced-ears 61*which project inwardly p into the channel. 7 The other arm 62 of the bell crank 'is' formedlwith spaced fingers 63 and 64 which are re ceived inthe longitudinal slot 28 of the inner end fof'the valve'jstem 27 i and straddle a pin 65 passing through said slot. 't d 'When the diaphragm is in its normal position, as shown 'inlet port. The return of the diaphragm to said normal 7 position causes the partsjtomove in the opposite direcl At one side Of the channel ii, the body eruse" :3 r

of the housing 'is provided with an atmospheric pressure 'gas inlet port 67 (Fig.4) providing communication be tween the atmosphere and the control chamber 10, the

position-thereby communicate with the interior of a rubber bag (not a 7 shown) supplied with oxygen or any mixture of life supporting gases at atmospheric pressure. With such an arrangement the gas within the bag should be maintained at atmospheric pressure.

At the opposite side of the channel 11, the body portion 3 of the housing is provided with a gas outlet port 79 providing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the control chamber 10, the outflow of gas being controlled by tatvalve 80 here shown as of the same construction as valve 68 except that the reduced portion of the bore is at the innerlendroi the cylindrical. casing and the disc 73 is resiliently urged inwardly to seated position by' the helicalspring '74. is seated on the crossed wirememberl75.

The spring 74' Below the floor 12 of the channellL a central longiform the portion 83' and reduced portions 84, 85 and 86 From the inner end of reduced portion 86a passage 87 extends inwardly and obliquely to communicate with the portion 25' of thelongitudinal bore 24 and thence through notches 37a, 33a and 38 1 provided respectively gas inlet chamber 41, the notches37a, 33a and33a cou- An elongate cylindrical casing that the speed' of gas passing through the .o1ifice' -is'accel erated, thepassage' 87, reduced portion 86 and 'ne zzle tube 1' '94 constituting fa v conduitl Thef orifice. 95 deliversgrhe gas into the interior'of a secondary or forcef nozzle 95;.

7 within the casin'g which has orifice'97 'oflargeir cross 1 1 a 5 section than that of'fthe orifice 9 5. A port 98afio rds' 'con'un'unicatiori between the interior of .thef nozzle-96l" and a suction chamber 99 withinthe casing into which the gas is delivered throughorifi ce 971 At the "mixing" chamber the casing is provided with a pass age 109 which inflow of air being controlled by a suitable valve68 shouldef 72 constituting-a valve'seat. A disc 73 constituting a valve'is di'sposed in seated position uponjthe :shoulder and is resiliently urged outwardly to' seated position by means of-a helical spring 74 having its outer end V j incontact with the inneriface of the discl'and its inner V enemas: to the b'ases 75 of a:pair of crossed 'U shafped Qwire baiISQtheiIegs 76'of the'bails being frictionallyre ceived-at' their' ends into' recesses provided m ne shouh der. The innerfend ofthe cylindrical casing 697 is'seeured; f ito 'the outer face of th'e body portion 3of the housing f o ver thej'atmospheric" pressure gas inlet POIt 67JbYfSlili-g t fable means as screws 77 (Fig. l) passing through open v ings in cars '73 projectin'g'laterally from the casing at fitsjinner end; the screws being threadedlytreceived by L openings thefbody portion 3 of the housing; Instead of communicating with the atmosphere the valve ,68 may here shown for example as comprising alcylindrical'cas ing 69 having a central bore '70 provided adjacent its 'outer end withra reducedportionl71'formingan'annular "of thefbore 82L. Thelpassage 182 constitutes V wherein the delivered from the orifice 97 'intQ-ithef 1 mixing chamber passes through athe passage'; 102 iwheret lit isallow'ed to expand thereby to create a reducedipreissure within'the mixing charnbe r causiing a-fs uctiori through 'the passages 1 0i) and ltil fto chamber 10.

communicates with'a passage 191 inth e' near, 12: of the:

channel 11 thereby afiording cornmunicationf between i t the mixing chamber andtthe control 'chamber 16. The a port 93 is'of slightly larger cross sectioh'than that of 'the orifice 97:";As the gas emerges fromfthe orifice 95 t Lit inducesa flow of 'g erm ne fsuctionchamben 99 in through'theport 98 and 'irntoqthe 'nozzle96. l

exit throat or passage spacer'casing104 disposed within'tthe reduced om n s47 The inner end' of the isjpaeer, casing isaabntsm outer V w 7 ier'idco f the cylindrical casing Qtiandtheouter end oi the 1 5 'j spacer casing Qis "externally threaded and'is; ada t cooperate with the internal thre'ads i651 provided in the reduced lportiori 84; to holdjthe Cylindrical casing. 531} in -f V "position" within the reduced parasites. he passage in the ease 8Z'is alsointernally threadedjto receive'an I: I"

iexteruaily Iihreadedportioniof the c ouplin'g iiiti or a 9tl h'aving an annular flange 91 at its outer end is disposed within the longitudinal bore 82, the casing 99 'b eing'disposed withi n the reduced'portion si andthe flange 91 within the i'educed portion 84, the shoulder 92 formed by the :flangefio V 7 operating. with the shoulder-93 formed b'yjthereduced portion to limit the inwardvmov ement of th'e'casi'ng. Within its inner end the casing is formed witha nozzle 7 tube 94 (Fig; 5) thefinner or exitend ,of' the' tube being 'shaped" to constitute the primary nozzle of an aspirator i device having an orifice 95 of restricted cross sectioned 192 leads 'from the suction j chamber 99, being coaxial with orifice 97 andtherice 'dilverges outwardly within the-casinginto communication with a central 'longitudinalfbore 1 03 of 'a cylindrical n aw gas asm n control. r 7 V arm, f

delivery hose 107 (Fig. 6), the passage 102, bore 103 and passage 83 constituting a delivery chamber. While not essential, a passage 108 is preferably provided between the inner end of the passage 83 and the floor 12 of the channel 11, thereby to provide a further communication between the interior of the control chamber and the delivery chamber.

Adjacent to the gas receiving end 4, the elongate body portion 2 of the housing is provided with a threaded passage 110 providing communication between the atmosphere and the passage 87. The passage 118 is normally closed by suitable means as a threaded plug 119a except when the valve is employed with an auxiliary device, as for example an aspirator, as will hereinafter be described.

One use of the breathing assistor valve of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the valve is shown connected between a source of compressed oxygen within the tank 120 and a face mask 121 of well known construction adapted to fit over the mouth and nose of a patient. Intermediate the tank 120 and coupling 46 at the gas receiving end of the valve standard commercial equipment is provided including couplings 260 and 122, a gauge 123 for indicating the amount of gas within the tank, a gauge 124 for indicating the pressure at which gas is being delivered to the valve, a pressure regulator 125 for controlling the pressure of the gas being delivered to the valve, and couplings 126 and 127. Intermediate the coupling 106 of the delivery hose 107 and the face mask 121 a gauge 128 is provided which indicates the pressure in centimeters of water at which gas is being delivered from the valve to the face mask. In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4a, when it is desired to prevent exhaled gases from reaching the chamber 10, a second atmospheric pressure inlet valve identical to the valve 68 is substituted for the exhalation valve 80 and 1 an exhalation valve 129 (Fig. 6) is provided at the face mask. The valve 129 has a passage (not shown) which communicate with the atmosphere during exhalation and which is closed during inhalation so that exhaled air passes to the atmosphere and does not enter the tube 107.

With the face mask in position over the patients mouth and nose, gas being supplied to the gas receiving end 4 of the valve and the parts of the valve in normal closed position shown in Fig. 5, both faces of the diaphragm being exposed to atmospheric pressure and the valve 54 is in seated position closing the gas inlet 51, the initiation of inhalation by the patient creates a slight negative pressure Within the mask. This negative pressure is transmitted through the hose 187 into the delivery chamber 82, thence directly through passage 108, or indirectly through the bore 163, passage 192, the suction chamber 99, passages 18% and 161 to the control chamber 10 Where it acts upon the inner face of the diaphragm 8 to move it inwardly of the chamber 10. This movement causes the bell crank 61) to retract the needle valve 54 from seated position and thus to slightly open the gas inlet port 51. The gas under pressure then flows from the tank 120 to the gas inlet chamber 41 through the radial slots 42-, thence through the gas outlet port comprising the notches 37a, 33a and 38a, thence through the passage 87, reduced portion 86, nozzle tube 94, orifice 95, forcer nozzle 96 and orifice 97 into the suction chamber 99 and thence through the venturi passage 102.

As the gas passes through the venturi passage 102 the suction thus created withdraws gas (air in the embodiment illustrated) from the control chamber 19 through the passages 181 and 1433 and thus further reduces the pressure within the valve chamber 16 and further depresses the diaphragm which causes the needle valve 54 to be further retracted and the gas inlet port 51 to be opened further as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5. The volume of gas thus increased by the increased supply of gas from the tank 213 and the increased supply of gas from the chamber 10 flows under pressure from the delivery chamber through the hose 107 to the face mask to assist the patient during the completion of his period of inhalation without further effort on the patients part.

During this operation the increase in negative pressure within the control chamber 10 overcomes the resistance of the spring 74 in the valve 68 controlling the atmospheric pressure inlet port 67, and the inlet valve 68 is opened to provide a supply of air (or other life sustaining gas) to the control chamber 19.

Upon the termination of the patients period of inhala tion, the patients lungs resist the further delivery of gas, and this resistance causes the negative pressure in the chamber 10 to be restored to atmospheric pressure and such atmospheric pressure causes the spring 74 to close the atmospheric pressure valve 73 and causes the diaphragm to return to its normal position (shown in Fig. 5). This action advances the needle valve 54 to its seated position (shown in full in Fig. 5) and closes the gas inlet port 51 to shut off the supply of gas from the tank 120. The exhalation opens the exhalation valve 129 (Fig. 6) to permit the normal exhalation of the patient therethrough to the atmosphere. At the next initiation of inhalation by the patient, the cycle above described is again repeated.

The above described operation includes use of the exhalation valve 129 and two atmospheric pressure inlet valves 68. When a patient is free of contagious diseases which would contaminate the breathing assistor valve of the invention, the exhalation valve 129 may be eliminated and the exhalation valve 86 may be substituted for one of the inlet valves 68 as shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment the patient exhales through the hose 107, the passage 108 or passages and 191 into the control chamber 10, and thence to the atmosphere through the outlet port 79, the positive pressure overcoming the resistance of the spring 74 to open the valve 73.

When the valve is used with the diaphragm 8 in a substantially horizontal position and the chamber 9 below the diaphragm, gravity returns the diaphragm to the normal position shown in Fig. 5 after each period of inhalation. When the diaphragm 8 is in a vertical position during use (as shown in Figs. 6 and 9) means should be provided to insure such return of the diaphragm. Suitable means for accomplishing this result are here shown, by way of example, as forming the cover 6 with the outwardly extending, substantially cylindrical shaped casing (Figs. 4 and 5) having a partially threaded central bore 136 in communication with the outer air pressure chamber 9. The bore 136 accommodates an externally threaded annular ring 137 which is adjustable throughout the threaded length of the bore. The outer face of the ring is provided with radially extending recesses 138 which receive and hold opposite ends of a bar 139 extending across a central opening 140 provided in the ring. A helical spring 141 is disposed within the bore inwardly of the ring, one end 142 of the spring extending through the ring opening and being connected to the bar 138. The other end 143 of the spring extends inwardly into the outer air pressure chamber where it is secured to a freely rotating Wire or loop 144 connected to the head of screw56. By adjusting the ring 137 within the bore the spring 141 is tensioned so as to very delicately urge the diaphragm to the normal position shown in Fig. 5. The outer end of the bore is provided with a threaded cap 145 to keep any foreign matter fromentering the outer air pressure chamber 9.

In Figs. 7 and 8, the breathing assistor valve of the invention is shown in use with a face mask and an-auxiliary device connected to the mask and here shown as" an atomizer for administering medicine. The

tutes a reservoir for a supply of the medicine or other substance to be administered. The casing 151 is provided with a tubular branch 153 defining a delivery passage 154 and the outer end of the branchfis frictionally tube 156 and atomizes it within the chamber,151.

elevating tube being so arranged relative to the'jet nozzle received in a perforation in the face mask 121.. Within thetchamber 152 a jet nozzle'155 is supplied with m'edicine or other substance by means of an elevatingtube 156 supported by the bracket 157, the upper end of the' 155 that the gas delivered from'the jet nozzle 155 lifts the medicinal substance to the tip' of the nozzle onthe The nozzle 155 is supplied with gas under pressure bytmeans of a flexible tubellSS connected at one end to the outer threaded passage 110 in the elongatebody portion 2 extension 159 and connected atrth'e opposite end to a coupling 160 which is threadedly received into the 'under pressure through the passage '87 while the gassinlet port is open flows through the passage 110, tube 158 into the jet nozzle 155, thereby to atomize the medicinal substance and to deliver it through the delivery passage 154 into the face mask where it is mixed with the gas entering the mask through the-tube 107 and is-then transmitted to the patients lungs during the period of inhalation, At the termination of the inhalation the gas inlet port 51 iisrclosed'as above described, thereby a tube 173 depending from the member 174 upon which" shutting ofi the supply of gas under pressure to the. jet

jnoz'zle 155 and terminating atomization the next period of inhalation. I

Fig. 9 shows the breathing assistor valve of the present invention asociated with a device for administering;

anesthesia. A standard commercial anesthesia bag 17.0 is encased in an air-tight chamber 171 defined by a transparent casing 172, the bag and easing being supported by is mounted the controls 175 customarily used inconnection with the administration of anesthesia. Oxygen and anesthesia gas are supplied to the anesthesia bag through the tube 173 and the patient breathes directly into and from the anesthesia bag in accordance with established "anesthesia administering methods. fThe delivery hose 107 t is connected to a nipple 176 projecting from the casing scribed in the case where apatient exhalesdirectly into the berathing assistor valve, 7 a

The tank 120 is normallytfilled with oxygen.

In use, the operator observes the indicator 128jand adjusts the pressure transmitted through the tube 107 by manipulating the control 125 for the pressure regulator.

This is to adjust the amount of assisting pressure used 7 and thereby to prevent the building up of excessive pressures in the 'patients lungs; V

t it should be understood that the present disclosure is 5 i for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims. I V 1 I claim;

l. A breathing assistor valve for providing positivej pressure substantially throughout each period of Vin-hal'ation 01? a usericomprisin'g a delivery chamber havingfia delivery port, means for operably connecting a sa d-delivery port with an airway to the users lungs,'a positive 7 pressure gas inlet port adapted to provide communication with a source of gas'under positive pressure, a closure member for said positive pressure gas'inlet port, a conduit 7 providing communication between ,the positive pressure gas inlet port and the delivery chamber said conduit being defined in part by a suction chamber which is in con- 7 t tinuous communication with said delivery chamber, a

- control chamber having a suction chamber passage'con- 172 and having a passage in communication with the 7' :1 interior of the chamber 171. Insofar as-the parts shown 7 7 inclig. 9- are the same as those shown in Fig.1; they have i been given tlie same reference numerals.

Jln use, as, the patient initiates inhalation from thei I anesthesia bag 170 the bag starts to deflate thereby re 7 ducing the pressure surrounding the bag within the chamber 171'tocreate'a slight negative pressure therein: 'This negative pressure is transmitted through tthe' hose 107 into the-delivery'chamber' of the breathing assis tor valve in the'same manner above'described in connectionwith,

the use of the face mask, th'er'eby. to, setoff the same cycle 7 and'to result in the delivery of a volume of mixed gas es 9 through the hose 197 into the chamberi 171 to;force the j rag 'furtherto'defiate, thereby artificially assisting the V patient tof'completea period oi inhalation without any;

' furtherl'eifort on his par -Upongterminatiori' of thei jperiodlof inha lation the patientfsi lungs resist further ex 7 pansion and this l creates 7 positive pressure within the Y'a'nesthesia bag equalizing and resistingthe delivery'p'resrf sureof the'gas surroundingtheb'aggthereby causingthe i closing of the gas inlet port 5110f the assistor yalve'in the manner already'described in connectioii with the opera ftion' of the valve with a face "mask. As the patieritt'exhales thebag is inflated and the positive pressure thereby {caused r ha b 1 i r' t n q hioi i t e os 7 i to the control" chamber 10 where-it is released I through the outletjvalve 73 in the same manner as detinuously-providing communication'betwcen the control chamber and the suction chambeiy' an atmospheric pressure'gas inlet port for providing communication between V V the suction chamber and a source of gas under atm0s-' pheric pressure, a check valve for said atmospheric pressure gas inlet port adapted to open in response to reduced j pressure of a predetermined amount in the control chamher, said conduit being also defined in part by means for t aspirating gas out of said control'chamber through said suction chamber passage and into said'suctionchamber in response to the how oi gas fromsaid sauce or gas under, "positive'pres'su're through said inlet portfandisaid conduit'and consequently through said asphating means and suction chamber, said aspirating mean sbeingdeiined in part by said suction chamber, means fer'normallyturging said closure member into a substantially closed posi tion, means, responsive to the negative pressure transmitted through said delivery chamber, suction chamber and suction chamber passage to said-control chamber upon the v initiation of each inhalation by the user, to open said; closure member andinitiate a substantialilow of'fgas through said conduit and aspirating means, said pressure responsive means being also responsiveto' the negative pressure created in saidcontrol chamber b yl the aspiration of gas therefrom by said aspirating means in response to said initiated flow of gas through saidiconduit and sai aspirating means, to further open said closure member j and increase -thcfiowsof gas throughsaid conduit and the l pressure; in said deliveryycharnber' sufiiciently to auto- 7 matically' complete said inhalation with no further, effort on theipart of the use, saidpressure responsive; means I also beingresponsive-to pressure in said contrnl'chamber V created by the resistance, of the users l'ungsto further flow of gas thereinto to automatically closeisaid closure member and means effective duringat least apart of the V time that said .closurefmember is c losed for relieving;- positive pressure in said conduit and delivery chamben: V v

iyhereby 'wlienfthe ciosureimernber for the positive pressure inlet portis opened responsive to negative pressure created in; thecontrcl chamberthreugh the delivers chant} V ber, suction-chamber andsuction chamber passage by'a:

"l slight inspiratory efiort of the usergas flows under posh tive pressure through said conduit" until-consequently through said aspirating means and said suctiontchamberi ,j V and the'aspirating action of s aid aspiratihgmeans in re= V; t i j t sp'ons'ettoj said flow of said gas therethrough drawsgasi Q from the control chamber thoughsaid suction chamberi a is t i f pressure in the control-chamber and further opening the I" passage into; the suction chamber 'furthe reduzf closure member for the positive pressure gas inlet port, thereby producing positive pressure at said delivery port.

2. A breathing assistor valve for providing positive pressure substantially throughout each period of inhalation of a user comprising a delivery chamber having a delivery port, means for operably connecting said delivery port with an airway to the users lungs, a positive pressure gas inlet port adapted to provide communication with a source of gas under positive pressure, a closure member for said positive pressure gas inlet port, a conduit providing communication between said inlet port and said delivery chamber, said conduit being defined in part by a suction chamber and a port providing continuous communication between said suction chamber and the delivery chamber, a control chamber having a suction chamber passage continuously providing communication between the control chamber and the suction chamber, said control chamber having an atmospheric pressure gas inlet port for providing communication between the control chamber and a source of gas under atmospheric pressure, a check valve for said atmospheric pressure gas inlet port adapted to open in response to reduced pressure of a predetermined amount in the control chamber, said control chamber also having an outlet port, an exhalation check valve for said outlet port adapted to open in response to a predetermined pressure in the control chamber greater than atmospheric pressure, said conduit being also defined in part by means for aspirating gas out of said control chamber through said suction chamber passage and into said suction chamber in response to the flow of gas from said source of gas under positive pressure through said gas inlet part and said conduit and consequently through said aspirating means and suction chamber, said aspirating means being defined in part by said suction chamber, means for normally urging said closure member into a substantially closed position and means, responsive to the negative pressure transmitted through said delivery chamber, suction chamber and suction chamber passage to said control chamber upon the initiation of each inhalation by the user, to open said closure member and initiate a substantial flow of gas through said conduit and aspirating means, said pressure responsive means being also responsive to the negative pressure created in said control chamber by the aspiration of gas therefrom by said aspirating means in response to said initiated flow of gas through said conduit and said aspirating means, to further open said closure member and increase the flow of gas through said conduit and the pressure in said delivery chamber sufiiciently to auto matically complete said inhalation with no further effort on the part of the user, said pressure responsive means also being responsive to pressure in said control chamber created by the resistance of the users lungs to further flow of gas thereinto to automatically close said closure member, whereby when the closure member for the positive pressure inlet port is opened responsive to negative pressure created in the control chamber through the delivery chamber, suction chamber and suction chamber passage by a slight inspiratory effort of the use gas flows under positive pressure through said conduit and consequently through said aspirating means and said suction chamber and the aspirating action of the aspirating means 4. The assistor valve of claim 1 wherein said conduit includes an aspirating nozzle the discharge end of which is located in the suction chamber and wherein said suction chamber defines the throat of a venturi.

5. A breathing assistor valve for providing positive pressure substantially throughout each period of inhalation of a user comprising a delivery chamber having a delivery port, means for operably connecting said delivery port with an airway to the users lungs, a positive pressure gas inlet port adapted to provide communication with a source of gas under positive pressure, a closure member for said positive pressure gas inlet port, a conduit providing communication between the positive pressure gas inlet port and the delivery chamber, said conduit being defined in part by a suction chamber which is in continuous communication with said delivery chamber, a control chamber having a suction chamber passage continuously providing communication between the control chamber and the suction chamber, said conduit being also defined in part by means for aspirating gas out of said control chamber through said suction chamber passage and into said suction chamber in response to the flow of gas from said source of gas under positive pressure through said gas inlet port and said conduit and consequently through said aspirating means and suction chamber, said aspirating means being defined in part by said suction chamber, means for normally urging said closure member into a substantially closed position, means, responsive to the negative pressure transmitted through said delivery chamber, suction chamber and suction chamber passage to said control chamber upon the initiation of each inhalation by the user, to open said closure member and initiate a substantial flow of gas through said conduit and aspirating means, said pressure responsive means being also responsive to the negative pressure created in said control chamber by the aspiration,

of gas therefrom by said aspirating means in response to said initiated flow of gas through said conduit and said aspirating means, to further open said closure member in response to said flow of gas therethrough draws gas from the control chamber through said suction chamber passage into the suction chamber further reducing the pressure in the control chamber and further opening the closure member for the positive pressure gas inlet port, 2

thereby producing positive pressure at said delivery port. 3. The assistor valve of claim 1 wherein said pressure responsive control means comprises a flexible diaphragm and increase the fiow of gas through said conduit and the pressure in said delivery chamber sufiiciently to automatically complete said inhalation with no further eflort on the part of the user, said pressure responsive means also beingresponsive to pressure in said control chamber created by the reistance of the .users lungs to further fiow of gas thereinto to automatically close said closure member, and means effective during at least a part of the time that said closure member is closed to relieve positive pressure in said conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 847,944 Hubner Mar. 19, 1907 1,515,911 Terry Nov. 18, 1924 1,895,047 Neumann Jan. 24, 1933 1,950,121 McKee Mar. 6, 1934 2,080,666 Leutwiler May 18, 1937 2,269,500 Wildhack Jan. 13, 1942 2,270,659 Meyn I an. 20, 1942 2,302,175 Bowen Nov. 17, 1942 2,378,047 Strange June 12, 1945 2,384,669 Fields Sept. 11, 1945 2,468,741 Emerson May 3,1949 2,545,707 Roth Mar. 20, 1951 2,567,224 McKee Sept. 11, 1951 2,575,366 Sollmann Nov. 20, 1951 2,616,442 Holmes Nov. 4, 1952 2,627,866 Holmes Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 898,889 France of 1945 

